New Video Aims to Stop Cyberbullying Before It Starts

Video released by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Sprint Shows teens how to resolve conflict before it escalates online

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The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Oct 13, 2015, 11:16 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, in time for National Bullying Prevention Month, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® and Sprint (NYSE:S) released a new video aimed at stopping Cyberbullying. The video, "Split Decisions," shows teens and tweens how to resolve conflict before it escalates to bullying online (www.nsteens.org/Videos/SplitDecisions). It's part of the free Internet safety site, www.NSTeens.org.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, on average, 26 percent of students say they have been the victim of cyberbullying at some point in their lives, and 16 percent admitted they have cyberbullied others. Cyberbullying might start with an online rumor, a photo, or a forwarded message—and can escalate quickly, sometimes to aggressive and cruel harassment.

"Today children are constantly connected to their peers through social media and wireless devices, making them feel there is no escape when they are the victims of cyberbullying, and creating sometimes long-lasting or even tragic consequences," said Linda Krieg, NCMEC acting CEO. "We want to stop cyberbullying before it starts, and with Sprint's support we created this video to help kids think about the consequences for themselves and others before they send that text, make that comment or post that picture."

The video tells the story of two teen girls who are having trouble getting along. Viewers follow them in two versions of their story with very different outcomes based on their decisions. One version of the story ends with them finding common ground and the other leads to digital drama.

At www.NSTeens.org, the video is paired with discussion guides and activity cards to make it easier for educators or parents to incorporate it into a lesson or conversation about digital citizenship. The site also has additional videos, web comics and games addressing other topics like online enticement, online security and digital ethics.

"The first stop to preventing cyberbullying is awareness and education" said Debby Ballard, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Sprint. "We feel it is our responsibility as a wireless provider to ensure the right tools are provided to address online harassment in this super-connected and digital world."

NCMEC and Sprint launched www.NSTeens.org in 2007. It's part of NCMEC's popular Internet safety resource, NetSmartz Workshop (www.NetSmartz.org). It's funded as part of Sprint's Internet safety initiative, 4NetSafety (www.4NetSafety.com), through Sprint's charitable phone-recycling program, Sprint Project Connect. 4NetSafety is an important part of Sprint Good Works^SM, an initiative that encompasses Sprint's community and philanthropic outreach across the country.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. Authorized by Congress to serve as the nation's clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 208,500 children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child sexual exploitation. Since it was created in 1998, more than 4.9 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been received, and more than 145 million suspected child pornography images have been reviewed. NCMEC works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.org. Follow NCMEC on Twitter (@MissingKids) and like NCMEC on Facebook (Facebook.com/MissingKids).

About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served more than 54 million customers as of June 30, 2014 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved U.S. company in customer satisfaction, across all 43 industries, over the last six years. Sprint has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America in 2011, 2012 and 2013. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Sprint Good Works^SM
Sprint is committed to using our technology, human and financial resources to help make the world a better place. This commitment infuses our business and culture, and it drives our Sprint Good Works^SM program. More than just a name, Good works is also a belief: Good does indeed work^SM. The good works we perform every day benefit three key subjects: people, product and planet. For people, we demonstrate good works through targeted philanthropic initiatives and a diverse and ethical workforce. For a better product, we harness the power of innovation to help customers minimize their environmental footprint and increase their safety and security, and to empower seniors and those with disabilities to stay connected through accessible technology. For a healthier planet, we lead the industry with our sustainable business practices and wireless reuse and recycling programs. These are just a few of the ways we demonstrate good works to bring people and resources together for a better world. You can learn more about our good works at www.sprint.com/goodworks.

SOURCE The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children